The deadly snouted cobra

Dear Prof McCrindle,

Is the snouted cobra a dangerous snake? We’ve seen a 2m-long specimen on our dairy farm and are worried that it might bite one of the dogs or our livestock. The staff are very frightened. How can we get rid of it? Kind regards,

Anonymous

Dear Anonymous,

The snouted cobra (Naja annulifera), also called the banded Egyptian cobra, is a dangerous, yellowish-brown, striped snake that becomes black with age.

It lives in bush and grasslands, is found in old termite nests, and is attracted to small-scale outdoor poultry operations. It is a nocturnal hunter, so is usually seen at dusk and dawn, but is occasionally spotted basking in the sun during the day, especially after cold or wet weather.

Heavy rain tends to make snakes leave their holes and seek shelter in farm buildings, especially dairies, or among the pots on a veranda between January and May.

Mating usually takes place in summer, as the heat makes snakes more active (as it does all reptiles, which are cold-blooded).

You may have more than one snouted cobra on your property if a female snake is attracting males.

NEUROTOXIC

A snouted cobra will rear up and show its hood when disturbed, and it’s highly likely to bite a human or animal that it sees as a threat, as it’s not a spitting cobra.

You are right to be concerned. The venom of this cobra is neurotoxic and can cause fatal respiratory failure in as little as two hours if an animal or human is bitten on the face.

Sheep and goats are sometimes bitten when they accidently step on a snake in the bush, and rams are often bitten on the testes. Dogs are commonly bitten in the mouth when they attack a snake.

Antivenom, administered intravenously and at a slow rate, is the only cure. Unfortunately, it is in short supply and very expensive. The only other treatment is oxygen given via intubation as soon as possible. If someone is bitten, call an ambulance or take the victim to hospital as quickly as possible, keeping ready to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation if he or she stops breathing.

Never attempt to catch or kill a cobra yourself; this is usually when people get bitten. Snakes can move very quickly, particularly on a hot day. Rather visit the website of the African Snakebite Institute for the nearest registered snake catchers. (Click on bit.ly/3ygbiGO, type in the nearest town, ‘search’, and ‘download’.)

The institute also provides a free app that describes various snake species and their habitats; it can be downloaded from the same web address.

My advice? Click on it and phone a snake catcher in your area – without delay. Kind regards,

Prof Cheryl McCrindle

Reference: Nakweya G. 2023. ‘Snakebite deaths much higher than reported’. Nature Africa. go.nature.com/3YzwW3S.

Cheryl McCrindle is an emeritus full professor in the Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Pretoria, and has extensive experience in animal health. Email her at farmersweekly@caxton.co.za. Subject line: Ask our vet.